AFTER SCHOOL TUTORIAL

I haven't figured out if I've gotten lazy, or if I have just decided to spend my time more efficiently. First semester I stayed after school almost every single day for after school tutorial. I told my students that I would be there up to five each day. Very few of my students actually came to tutorial. When no students came, it was not completely a waste of time - I was able to grade papers, etc., but I could have done that in the comfort of my own home, and my work day would not seem so long.

This semester, since afterschool tutorial for the state tested subjects (I don't teach any of those) have begun, I told my students that I would do after-school tutorial by appointment only. This actually made sense for more than one reason. One, on many afternoons, I will need time to meet with people to try to set up a job for next year! Second, my school has this new thing where teachers have to walk down to the auditorium after school to "pick up" their students to take them back to the classroom for tutoring. It didn't make a whole lot of sense for me to walk downstairs to the opposite end of the building to find that no student needed my help on most days.

I also told my students that I would not tutor them unless they can show me notes from the lesson they need help with. Many of my students had begun to daydream in class with the assurance that they could get the missed information after school. Not any more! My voice is a commodity, and I have been stressing it out lately (by the end of the day, it is usually very weak). I refuse to have to do things twice just because a student doesn't do what he/she is supposed to in class.

SUGGESTED SUMMER SCHOOL CHANGES

I suggest that summer school be structured such that at least some of the classes are taught on block schedule. All of the Jackson teachers, and many teachers from other districts teach strictly on a block schedule. Teaching a 50 minute period is very different from teaching a 90 minute period. It would be great for the new teachers to actually have practice planning for a longer period and teaching a full block.

I personally find it much more difficult to effectively teach 90 minutes than 50 minutes. The students are just like I am - barely able to keep their mind on one subject for an hour and a half. It takes experience to get to the point where a teacher uses those 90 minutes most efficiently.

I would also have those who ride the bus to Holly Springs to sign in on the bus, and those who drive separately to sign in at the school. That would mean three sign-in sheets, but I don't think that's too much considering the time it would save teachers who would not have to wait in line to sign in.